Fiber-disintegrating machine.



PATENTED NOV. 20, 1906. J. A. MORRISON & S 0. DICKINSON. FIBER DISINTEGRATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NO V. 2 1. 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- I gonmwfozs i 5 Witt wow: 7

jmes. fl: Mbrrgsom m %M i Mac am d? ,jmow,

ASHINGTON, m c.

No. 836,126. PATEN'IED NOV. 20, 1906.

J. A. MORRISON & S. 0. DICKINSON.

FIBER DISIN'I'EGRATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21. 1905! I K l 4 0w? 4 4 1 4 l 0 9 6 6 0 6 Q 0 A9 M /3 42 A I I J 26;. o J W 6 425' 6 e /9 9 Z A;

4 snms-snnm 2.

a e 0 03a 0 /5 25. 22 Q '46 G4 I 48 50 J .5 0 i J 59 uvvuvuuvuuwuv iii W. t I I I v mow %i7;l $013 I No. 836,126. PATENTED NOV. 20, 1906.

- J. A. MORRISON & S. O. DICKINSON.

FIBER DISINTEGRATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.21, 1905. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

i THE :vorems PETERS 00., was-macro, 11c.

Wammw No. 836,126. PATENTED NOV 20, 1906. J. A. MORRISON & S. O. DICKINSON.

FIBER DISINTEGRATING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED-ROY. 2 1. 1905.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

F .Z @I r 5% I 5.5 J

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PINE ISLANDS.

FIBER-'DISINTEGRATING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Nov. 20, 1906.

Application filed November 21, 1905. Serial No. 288,481.

T0 at whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES A. MORRISON and SIDNEY O. DIoKINSoN, citizens of the United States, residingat Manila, Philippine Islands, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fiber Disintegrating Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates generally to improvements in machines for disintegrating fibrous plants, and particularly to a machine constructed and arranged for separating the fibers of manila hemp or abaca from the pulp of the stalk.

The main object of the present invention is to effectively scrape or separate all the pulp from the fiber with the least possible waste .of the material.

The invention, broadly stated, comprehends means for automatically Separating a stalk longitudinally and drawing said separated portion between scraperblades, means for forcing said separated portion longitudinally of the scraper-blades during its passage therebetween, and means for severing the scraped fibers.

The preferred embodiment of the details of our invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse sec tion of the machine, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the machine, taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a por tion of the carrier-chain. Fig. 9 is a sectional view through said chain, showing the clamping-arm in operative position to secure a stalk in the carrier. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the clamping-arms.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the frame of the machine, preferably of channeliron or other suitable material and comprising such side bars, end bars, and cross-bars as may be necessary to suitably support the operating mechanism, hereinafter described.

2 represents the main shaft, suitably mounted in the frame 1 near the top thereof and projecting beyond said frame at one end to receive a belt-wheel 3, by means of which power is communicated to the machine from any suitable source. A shaft 4 is mounted in the frame in horizontal alinement with Shaft 2, but at the opposite end of the machine.

A carrier-wheel 5 is fixed on each shaft 2 and 4, near the ends thereof, said wheels being formed with a series of peripheral recesses 6, arranged regularly about the circumference of each wheel. The recesses 6 are preferably semicircular depressions and are each formed at the base with a notch or key-seat 7 for a purpose hereinafter de scribed.

The carrier 8 is arranged for cooperation with and to be driven by the wheels 5. Said carrier is of chain form, comprising links 9, made up of two members having rounded heads or ends 10, said heads projecting below the plane of the members. The link'members at one end contiguous to the heads 10 are bent outwardly at 11 to space said heads to receive the heads of the adjoining links, as Seen in Fig. 8. The link members are curved lengthwise, said curvature being practically coincident with the curvature of the carrierwheels 5. The links are pivotally connected by pins 1 2, which pins also support the clamping-arms 13, which clamping-arms are supported on the pins 12 intermediate the link members 9. The clamping-arms 13 are of curved formation, having the free ends 14 of the clamping portion 1 5 sharpened and point-.

ed, as shown. Projections 16, depending from the arms and formed with an opening 17 to receive the pins 12, are provided with depending lugs or keys 18. A tailpiece 19 projects rearwardly from the arms, preferably comprising a flat plate-like member bifurcated at 20 for a purpose hereinafter described. The arrangement of'these parts is such that when the clamping-arms 13 are in position in the links of the carrier the tail piece 19 will rest upon the upper edges of the members of the link directly in rear of the particular arm, the curvature of the arm proper being greater than that of the link, so

that a portion 21 of the arm projects above the upper edge of the link members, as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

The chain is of a length to engage the carrier-wheels 5, being positively driven'by the heads 1.0 of the links fittingwithin the re-.

cesses 6 in said carrier-wheels. In passing around the carrier-wheels the keys 18 of the clamping-arms will seat in the key-seats 7 of the recesses 6, operating the carrier-arms in a manner to be described.

A guideway for the carrier is suitably supported contiguous the same, comprising a lower plate 22, centrally grooved at 23, and an upper plate 24, having its free end bent downward at 25, said bent portion ex tending lengthwise of the chain adjacent its inner edge and preventing displacement of the carrier by lateral strain. The groove 23 is arranged to receive the projecting portion 21 of the clamping-arms 13, whereby to bind said arms in clamping position, as hereinafter pointed out.

The scraper blades are arranged transversely of the 1nachinethat is, at right angles to the direction of travel of the carrier and comprise afixed blade 26 and a movable blade 27, the latter being preferably supported from the frame by spring-arms 28, as clearly shown. The blades are slightly spaced apart, with their contiguous edges s arpened, as at 29, to provide for effective scraping of the material. I

Shafts 30 and 31, mounted in the frame in horizontal alinement and below the scra erblades, carry fixed pulleys 32, over w ich travels an endless belt 33, provided with outwardly-projecting fingers 34. The belt is arranged for travel adjacent the scraper-blades and slightly below the same, the fingers 34 being of a length to project above the space between the scraperblades. The shafts 30 and 31 are suitably driven by a bevel-gear 35 on the main shaft 2, meshing with a gear 36 on a stud-shaft 37, the lower end of which is provided with a gear 38 to engage a gear 39, fixed on shaft 30, all as clearly seen in Fig. 4.

A feed-table 40 is fixed at the charge end of the machine, being arranged beneath and to one side of the carrier 8. The innerend of the table is provided with a vertically-projecting head plate 41, the upper edge of which terminates just below the path of travel of the carrier.

42 represents a feed-fork having a sliding engagement with the table 40 through the medium of a guide-flange 43, pivoted. to the table, with its free edge engaged in a slot 44 in the fork. The flange 43 is preferably pivoted near one edge of the table adjacent the carrier 8, whereby the fork may be utilized to feed the stalks to the carrier.

A cutter 45, preferably of saw-disk formation, is mounted near the discharge end of the machine underlying and in close proximity to the carrier 8. The cutter is supported on a shaft 46, which projects beyond the frame and is provided with a belt-pulley 47 to receive power.

48 represents a balance press pivotally supported in the frame of the machine at 49,

the platform 50 of which projects inward from beneath the carrier 8 and at right angles to the direction of movement of such carrier, the platform being beneath and in rear of the scraper-blades 26 and 27. The frame of the press projects beyond the machine and is provided with a depending weight 51, arranged to balance the platform, the stem 52 of which is adapted to receive additional weights as desired.

From the above description it will be noted that the feed-table is arranged slightly below the carrier 8 and that the scraperblades are arranged contiguous the carrier, but projected at right angles to the path of travel of the carrier. The combing-belt 33 travels parallel with the scraper-blades and in close proximity thereto, while the cutter 45 operates parallel to and contiguous the carrier 8, but at the discharge end of the machine, while the guide for the lower portion of the carrier extends parallel with the movement of travel of the carrier, extending from one carrier-wheel 5 to the other.

Assuming the parts constructed and assembled in the manner described, the operation of our improved machine is as follows: The stalks are placed upon the feed-table 40, being arranged transverse of the machine. The prongs of the fork 42 are driven into a stalk and the same is forced rearward along the table until brought into contact with the head-plate 41, the fork being operated to elevate the stalk, so that it is held against the upper edge of the. head-plate 41. While the carrier-chain is taut, as before described, the tailpieces 19 rest upon the edges of the next succeeding link members and maintain the clamping-arm 15 in closed position-that is, between the members of its respective link. As the carrier-links engage the carrier-wheels, however, the keys 18 of the clamping-arms ride into the key-seats 7 of the recesses 6, the heads 10 of the links fitting in said recesses, and the links being of such curvature as to snuglyhug the periphery of the carrierwheel. As the arms 15 curve above a line at right angles to a line through the pivot and key 18 of the clamping-arms, it follows that when said keys ride into the seats 7 in the wheels the forward ends of the clamping-arms will be thrown upward from between the links, and this position of the clamping-arms will be maintained during the travel of the carrier in contact with the carrier-wheel, it being understood that the links in curving around the carrier-wheel move from beneath the tailpieces 19 of the clamping-arms. As the sharpened end 14 of the clamping-arm in its projected position passes above the table 40 it will be forced into the stalk, (represented in dotted lines at 53,) tearing the stalk longitudinally to expose the pith therein. A slightly further movement of the carrier will bring the clamping-arm into contact with the lower guide-plate 22, forcing said arm into closed position and gripping the end of the severed portion of the stalk 54 between the clamping-arm and the members 9 of its re spective link. The projecting portion 21 of the clampingarms rides longitudinally of the guide-plate 22 in the groove 23 thereof, said guideplate being preferably turned downward at its forward end, as at 55, to facilitate the entrance of the carrier and clampingarm. It will thus be evident that the severed portion of the stalk will be securely held in the carrier,both in view of the guide-plate 22 and the fact that the carrier in this part of its travel is practically horizontal, so that the links bear beneath the tailpiece 19 of the clamping-arm and main tain it in clamped position. That portion of the stalk immediately adjacent the part clamped by the clamping-arm is forced between the transverselyarranged scraperblades 26 and 27, and as the carrier moves forward the stalk is drawn lengthwise between the scraper-blades to remove the pith therefrom. The combing-belt which travels parallel to the scraper-blades and at right angles to the direction of travel of the carrier acts to force the stalk lengthwise said blades by means of the teeth or pins 34, at the same time maintaining an even distribution of the stalk fibers between the scraper-blades. After the stalk has been drawn through the scraper-blades the portion remote from the carrier will fall upon the platform 50 of the balance-press 48, and the further movement of the carrier brings the stalk into contact with the cutter 45, which acts to sever the stalk at one side of the carrier, permitting the fibers to fall upon the platform 50, while that portion of the stalk still gripped in the carrier is released by the opening movement of the clamping-arms, due to the travel of the carrier in conjunction with the rear carrier-wheel 5.

It will be noted that the stalk is subjected to a double movement in connection with the scraper-blades, one due to the carrier which draws the stalk transverse the scraperblades, and another clue to the combing-belt which forces the stalk lengthwise the scraperblades and evenly distributes the fibers for the action of said blades. The guides 22 and 24 act to maintain the proper position of the carrier during its movement to draw the stalk between the scraper-blades The platform 50 is arranged with its forward edge in rear of the scraper-blades, so that the pulp scraped from the stalk will fall between the blades and the edge of the platform to any suitable receptacle beneath the machine. By affixing weights 56 to the stem 52, to indicate the desired quantity of fiber, the platform will automatically dump to discharge such quantity when received, as will be evident.

The upper scraping-blade 1s yieldingly supported by the spring-arms 28 to compensate for irregularities in the stalk. By the construction described but a very small portion of each stalk is wasted, the remainder being effectively cleared of pulp and dropped onto the balance-press in fibrous condition.

We wish it understood that we do not limit ourselves to the exact details herein shown and described, as various mechanical changes may be made without altering the nature of our invention, and we consider all such changes as within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The clamping-arms 15 are practically coextensive in length with the links, and the bifurcation 20 in the tailpiece 19 of any one clamping-arm permits the opening move: ment of the next rearward clamping-arm.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a machine for disintegrating fiber comprising means for separating a stalk longitudinally, means for forcing the stalk transverse the scraping-blades, and means for forcing the stalk lengthwise said blades.

2. In a machine for disintegrating fiber, a plurality of scraping-blades, means for forc ing a stalk transverse said blades, and means for moving the stalk longitudinally of the blades.

3. In a machine for disintegrating fiber, scraping-blades, a carrier for moving the stalk transverse the blades, and a combingbelt for moving the stalk lengthwise the blades.

4. In a machine for disintegrating fiber, scraping-blades, a carrier moving transverse the length of said blades, and a combing-belt traveling parallel with the blades.

5. In a machine for disintegrating fiber, scraping-blades, a carrier, means mounted on the carrier to separate a stalk longitudinally, said means clamping the separated portion to the carrier, and a combing-belt traveling parallel with the scraping-blades.

6. In a machine for disintegrating fiber, scraping-blades, a carrier moving transverse the length of said blades, means supported on the carrier to sever a stalk longitudinally and clamp the severed portion to the carrier, a combing-belt traveling parallel with the scraping-blades, and means to sever the fiber from the carrier after passage through the scraping-blades.

7. In a machine for disintegrating fiber, scraping-blades arranged transverse the machine, a carrier moving longitudinally of the machine, the lower path of travel of the carrier being on a plane with the scraping-blades, a combing-belt arranged transversely of the machine, and combing-teeth projecting from said belt.

8. In a machine for disintegrating fiber, a feed-table, a carrier operative above the table, scraper-blades arranged contiguous the lIO lower path of travel of the carrier and projecting at right angles thereto, a combingbelt traveling beneath and parallel with the scraper-blades, and a cutter mounted adjacent the carrier.

9. In a machine for disintegrating fiber, a framework, carrier-wheels supported by the framework, each of said wheels being formed with recesses and with key-seats in the base of said recesses, a carrier supported by the wheels and comprising links having heads to seat them in the recesses in the wheels, and clamping-arms pivotally supported by the carrier and having keys to seat in the keyseats, and scraper-blades arranged at right angles to the path of travel of the carrier.

10. In a machine for disintegrating fiber, a feed-table, a carrier mounted above said table, scraper-blades arranged transverse of the path of travel of the carrier, and a guide for the carrier arranged at right angles to the scraper-blades.

11. In a machine for disintegrating fiber, scraper-blades arranged transverse of the machine, a carrier movable longitudinally of the machine, clamping-arms supported by the carrier, carrier-wheels around which the carrier passes, and means to maintain said clamping-arms in open position during the contact of the carrier with the carrier-wheel.

12. In a machine for disintegrating fiber, scraper-blades arranged transverse of the machine, a carrier movable longitudinally of the machine, clamping-arms supported by the carrier, carrier-wheels around which the carrier passes, means to maintain said clamping-arms in open position during the contact of the carrier with the carrier-wheels, and a guide to receive the carrier after contact with said carrier-wheels and force the clampingarms into clamped position.

13. A carrier for fiber-disintegrating machines comprising a plurality of curved links pivotally connected together, each ofsaid links comprising side members spaced apart, a clamping-arm mounted on the link-pivots intermediate the members thereof, said arm having a rearwardly-projecting tailpiece to overlie the upper edges of the rearward adjacent link members, whereby when the carrier is taut the clamping-arms are maintained in clamped position between the members of their respective links.

14. In a machine for disintegrating fiber, scraping-blades, a carrier operating in a plane at right angles to the plane of the blades and serving to draw a stalk between the blades and means for forcing said stalk lengthwise the blades during the operation of the carrier.

15. In a machine for disintegrating fiber, scraping-blades, a carrier operating in a plane at right angles to the plane of the blades, means mounted on a carrier to grip the stalk and move the same between the blades, and means for forcing the stalk lengthwise the blades during its movement under the influence of the carrier.

16. In a machine for disintegrating fiber, scraping-blades, a carrier operating in a plane at right angles to the plane of the blades, means mounted on a carrier to grip the stalk and move the same between the blades, and means for forcing the stalk lengthwise the blades during its movement under the influence of the carrier, and means for severing the stalk at the discharge end of the blades 17. In a machine for disintegrating fiber, a scraping means, means for operating the stalk in a plane transverse to the plane of the scraping means, and independent means for moving the stalk lengthwise the scraping means during its movement transverse thereof.

In testimony whereof we afiiX our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. MORRISON. SIDNEY O. DICKINSON.

Witnesses as to James A. Morrison:

AUSTIN R. SWEENEY, JOHN H. REARDON.

vVltnesses as to Sidney O. Dickmson:

JOSE LINGSON, MANUEL GoYENA. 

